Manatee Public Records

Manatee County is a large county on the Gulf Coast side of Florida. As of the 2010 census, this county boasted a population of 322,833. Manatee County was first established as a Florida county in 1855 and features a long and colorful history. To learn about the generations of Florida residents that once called Manatee County home, a Manatee County public records search is a good place to start. Successful searches must begin by learning where various public records in Manatee County, FL are stored, and what is required to search for a request copies of these historic documents.

Before beginning a Manatee public records search, consider the following factors:

Free Manatee County public records are available through a variety of potential sources.

Most public records in Manatee, FL can be found in person, by mail on through online services.

Fees are assessed for document copies, which are posted on the appropriate agency website.

Some public records in Manatee County are restricted to authorized individuals only.

Some sources have historical public records for Manatee County dating back to the 1800s.

Manatee County Public Records Search: Guidelines

The state has restricted access to certain Florida public records for the purpose of protecting the identity of those on the documents. Manatee County birth certificates are restricted for the first 100 years after the birth to the individual on the document, immediate family members and legally authorized representatives of any of these parties.

Manatee County death certificates are available to the general public, but the inclusion of a cause of death is restricted to immediate family members of the deceased and their personal representatives.

Because of these restrictions, those seeking free public records in Manatee County must provide proof of identification and relationship to the research subject.

Sources for Manatee County Public Records

A Manatee, FL public records search could take you to a number of interesting resources and offices. Birth and death certificates are available through the Manatee County Health Department, as well as the Florida Department of Health. The county office only holds death certificates from 2001 to present, while Manatee County birth records at this office date back to 1930. The state office holds some birth records dating back to 1865 and death records to 1877.

The Manatee County Clerk of Courts also has death, marriage and divorce records for the county. This office offers options for conducting an online Manatee County, Florida public records search as well.

Manatee County Public Records Online Offer Speed, Convenience

Making the search for public records in Manatee County, FL fast, convenient and accurate is the goal of many of the offices in the state. Subsequently, many of them offer an online public records search for Manatee County that allow interested parties to find and order public documents right from the comfort of home. While the county court offers its own online service on its website, the Florida Department of Health uses an outside source, VitalChek, for online service. There is an additional fee for using VitalCheck.